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Science 8 June 1990:
Vol. 248. no. 4960, pp. 1219 - 1221
DOI: 10.1126/science.2349480
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Articles

Science, Vol 248, Issue 4960, 1219-1221
Copyright © 1990 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Defensive spray of the bombardier beetle: a biological pulse jet

J Dean, DJ Aneshansley, HE Edgerton, and T Eisner

Section of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.

The defensive spray of the bombardier beetle Stenaptinus insignis is ejected in quick pulses (at about 500 pulses per second) rather than as a continuous stream. The pulsation may be a consequence of intermittency in the explosive chemical process that generates the spray. The ejection system of the beetle shows basic similarity to the pulse jet propulsion mechanism of the German V-1 "buzz" bomb of World War II.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Spray mechanism of the most primitive bombardier beetle (Metrius contractus).
T Eisner, D. Aneshansley, M Eisner, A. Attygalle, D. Alsop, and J Meinwald (2000)
J. Exp. Biol. 203, 1265-1275
   Abstract »    PDF »
Spray aiming in the bombardier beetle: Photographic evidence.
T. Eisner and D. J. Aneshansley (1999)
PNAS 96, 9705-9709
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »


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